Steam-trap.



No. 802,785. PATENTED OUT. 24, 1905. E. J. RYAN.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION YILED FEB.23.1905.

WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed February 23, 1905. Serial No. 2%,8'72.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. RYAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Danville, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Steam-Trap, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved steam-trap arranged to periodically and automatically insure a com plete discharge of the water of condensation without danger of leakage of steam.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the same, parts being in section; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the yoke.

The vessel A, of cylindrical or other shape,

fits at its ends into heads A and A, of which the head A is engaged by the threaded end of a bolt A extending lengthwise through the vessel A and other head A to engage the outer face thereof, so as to securely hold the heads A and A in position on the vessel and to allow convenient opening of the vessel whenever it is desired to clean the same.

The head A is mounted to swing on hollow trunnions B and C, of which the trunnion B is the inlet-trunnion, and is connected with the apparatus from which the water of condensation is to be removed, and the other trunnion C is the outlet-trunnion. The trunnions B and C are secured in a yoke D, attached to a suitable base E, the inlet-trunnion B being for the purpose preferably fastened in the bearing D of the yoke D by a set-screw D while the trunnion C screws at its outer end into the hollow arm D of the yoke D, as will be readily understood by reference to the drawings. The hollow arm D of the yoke is connected with a discharge-pipe F, provided with a valve G, the stem G of which is engaged by a bracket H, removably fastened by a bolt H to the trunnion-head A. The bracket H extends between sets of jam-nuts G and G screwing on the stem Gr, so that when the vessel A is caused to swing downwardly then the bracket H engages the uppermost jamhead A and opening into the vessel A, so that,

the water of condensation and the steam can readily flow into the vessel A. The inner end of the outlet-trunnion C connects by a port 6, formed in the head A, with anoutlet-pipe J, secured to the head A and extending lengthwise in the vessel A, thefree end of the said pipe J being curved downwardly to extend within a short distance of the bottom of the vessel A at its outer or free end. (See dotted lines in Fig. 1.)

The vessel A when empty is held in a normal horizontal position by the action of a counterbalancing device consisting of a link K, pivotally connected with the vessel A at or near the outer end thereof, the link being also connected with one end of a lever L, extending longitudinally and carrying at its free end a weight N, adapted to be shifted length wise on the lever to a desired position to be then fastened to the lever by a set-screw N. The lever L is fulcrumed between its ends at L on the top of a stop-bracket O, securedto the base E and provided with stops 0 and 0, made of rubber or similar soft material, to limit the upward and downward swinging motion-of the vessel A. (See full and dotted lines in Fig. 1.)

The operation is as follows: When the vessel A is empty, it is held in a normal horizontal position by the action of the co unterbalancing-leverL, standing approximately in a horizontal position. When the vessel A is in this position, the valve G 1s closed, and the water of condensation and steam can pass by way of the hollow trunnion B and port a into the vessel A, in which the water can accumulate until the weight of the water overcomes the counterbalancing device, so that the vessel A swings downward until it rests on the stop 0 The vessel A in swinging downward causes opening of the valve G by the action of the bracket H on the nuts Gr of the valvestem G, as previously described, and as the free end of the pipe J is immersed in the water of condensation it is evident that the pressure of the steam passing into the vessel A by way of the trunnion B and port a forces the water through the pipe J and port Z) into the hollow trunnion C and from the latter by way of the hollow arm D and open valve G into the pipe F to a suitable place of discharge. As the free end of the pipe J extends within a short distance of the bottom of the vessel A, as previously described, it is evidentthat all or nearly all of the water contained in the vessel A is forced out of the same, and when the vessel is thus emptied the counterbalancing device returns the vessel A to its normal horizontal. position. The vessel A in swinging back causes closing of the valve G by the action of the bracket H on the nuts G held on the valve-stem G. When the vessel A swings downward, as above described, the counterbalancing-lever L is swung upward into an inclined position, and after the vessel A has been emptied and the lever L swings downward by the action of the weight N then the leverage of the lever L increases, and consequently the vessel A swings back to its normal position with considerable force, whereby the valve G is quickly seated on its valve-seat.

The valve G is kept closed as long as the vessel A is in its normal position, and the valve is so arranged that the pressure from within the vessel A is on the top of the valve to assist in holding the valve to its seat to prevent leakage of water or steam.

The device is very simple and durable in construction and is composed of comparatively few parts, not liable to easily get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A steam-trap comprising a vessel having heads, means connecting the heads to hold them in place on the vessel, hollow inlet and outlet trunnions on which one of said heads is mounted to swing, a lever fulcrumed between its ends and connected at one end by a link with the free end of the vessel, and a weight carried on the other end of the lever.

2. A steam-trap comprising a vessel mounted to swing and provided at its fulcrum end 'with an inlet and a discharge, a lever fulcrumed between its ends and connected at one end by a link with the free end of the vessel, a weight carried on the other end of the lever, and a stop-bracket located between the ends of the said vessel and provided with stops of yielding material, for limiting the up-anddown swinging motion of the said vessel, the lever having its fulcrum on the said stopbracket.

3-. A steam-trap comprising a vessel having heads, means connected with one head and engaging the other head to hold the heads in position on the vessel, hollow inlet and outlet trunnions on which one head is mounted to swing, theinlet-trunnion being connected with a steam-supply pipe, a pipe extending lengthwise in the vessel and discharging into the outlet-trunnion the inlet end of said pipe extending to near the bottom of the vessel, a waterdischarge pipe connected with the outlet-trunnion, a valve in the water-discharge pipe, and a bracket removably attached to the said vessel and connected with the said valve, to open and close the latter.

4:. A steam-trap comprising a vessel, hollow inlet and outlet trunnions on which one end of said vessel is mounted to swing, the inlet-trunnion being connected with a steam-supply pipe, a pipe extending lengthwise in the vessel and discharging into the outlet-trunnion, a yoke having a hollow arm with which the outlet-trunnion connects, a water-discharge pipe connected with the hollow arm of the yoke, a valve in the water-discharge pipe, the valve being so arranged that the pressure from within the vessel is exerted on the top of the valve to assist in holding the valve to its seat, and a connection between the valve-stem and the pivoted end of said vessel.

5. A steam trap comprising a cylindrical vessel having heads, hollow inlet and outlet trunnions on which one of said heads is mounted to swing, the inlet-trunnion being connected with a steam-supply pipe, a pipe extending lengthwise in the vessel and discharging into the outlet-trunnion, a yoke suitably supported and having a bearing at the end of one arm, the other arm of said yoke being hollow, the inlet-trunnion being secured in said bearing and the outlet-trunnion screwing at its outer end into the said hollow arm, a discharge-pipe connected with the hollow arm of the yoke, and a valve in said pipe connected with the pivoted end of said vessel, the pressure from within the vessel being exerted on the top of said valve to assist in holding the valve to its seat.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD J. RYAN.

Witnesses:

ISAAC A. LovE, W. R. J EWELL, Jr. 

